The Application of Expectancy Theory Model as a Catalyst for Labour Act Towards Optimum Performance at Workplaces in Nigeria

Abstract

Labour leaders and workers generally face more challenges in performing their expected roles at the workplaces. An aspect of those notable challenges could be traced to the application of the Labour Act, which prescribes the principal purpose of establishing rules and regulations governing workplaces. Therefore, the study examined aspects of the Nigerian labour Act in relation to the optimum performance. The population for the study consisted of one-third of all the registered unionised industries attributed to the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Nigeria. An ex-post facto type of descriptive research design was applied to the study. The population for the study was restricted to the trade unions of selected industrial union in Nigeria. The main research instruments were two: Labour Act Tools (LAT) scale and the Union Expectancy Theory Model (VETM) scale. Self-developed scales, using the essential provisions of the Labour Act, existing rules and regulations, were pilot tested using split-half method and they gave the reliability coefficient r = 0.75 for the LAT scale, and r = 0.67 for the VETM scale. The study revealed that labour Acts and other extant labour laws as examined in the study were potent factors in enhancing effectiveness of the labour in performing at workplaces. Based on the outcomes of the analysis of data and discussion of findings, recommendation of the application of the expectancy theory model to acquiring knowledge in all areas of labour laws towards optimum performance at workplaces. The general implication of the study reveals that the labour cannot perform in isolation without the knowledge of labour laws, and in addition to further motivations of that can be enhanced by expectancy model. This is to assist in achieving the overriding purpose of unionised representative activities.